1970s

Poster advertising a march and rally on 18 June 1977 to mark the first anniversary of the Soweto student uprising, organised by the National Union of Students and the National Union of School Students with support from the AAM. The rally was addressed by future South African Cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini, then Vice-President of the South African Student Organisation (SASO), Stephen Dlamini, President of SACTU, and British student leaders, including future Labour Cabinet Minister Charles Clarke.

Demonstrators marched through central London on 18 June 1977 to mark the first anniversary of the Soweto uprising. The march was organised by the National Union of Students and National Union of School Students, with support from the AAM. Two days before, Nkosazana Dlamini and Canon Collins spoke at a commemoration service in the crypt of St Martin’s in the Fields. In Scotland AAM supporters held a vigil outside South Africa’s Glasgow consulate. 

The ANC contingent on the march through central London on 18 June 1977 held to mark the first anniversary of the Soweto uprising. The march was organised by the National Union of Students and National Union of School Students, with support from the AAM. Two days before, Nkosazana Dlamini and Canon Collins spoke at a commemoration service in the crypt of St Martin’s in the Fields. In Scotland AAM supporters held a vigil outside South Africa’s Glasgow consulate. 

ANC Acting President Oliver Tambo (left) at a reception held by the AAM on 13 June 1977 during the Commonwealth Conference held in London. The conference issued a comprehensive communiqué on Southern Africa that affirmed total support for the liberation movements in Zimbabwe and Namibia and condemned South African aggression against the frontline states.

Rock climbers Edwin Drummond and Colon Rowe climbed Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London in October 1977 and unfurled a banner calling for an end to investment in South Africa.

Anti-apartheid protesters picketed the South African Embassy on 11 October 1977, UN Day for Southern African political prisoners. They collected signatures for an international petition calling for the release of the Pretoria 12, 11 men and one woman charged under the Terrorism Act with recruiting people to undergo military training. The 12 included ANC veterans and students who had joined Umkhonto we Sizwe after the 1976 Soweto uprising. Eventually six were sentenced to long jail sentences and six were acquitted.

Anti-apartheid supporters protested outside South Africa House within hours of the banning of 18 organisations in South Africa on 19 October 1977. The apartheid government banned every significant national organisation opposed to apartheid within South Africa, including the Black People’s Convention and the Christian Institute.

Leaflet highlighting the atrocities committed against Zimbabwe’s civilian population by the security forces and the secret hangings carried out by the Smith regime.